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What Is Dexter

Dexter is a highly configurable add-on that can index your ExpressionEngine entries into Algolia or Meilesearch when when an entry is added, updated, or deleted. It can also perform full index rebuilds from its admin page. It is not plug and play. It does require some setup and configuration, and an understanding of how Algolia or Meilisearch work.

No two search implementations are alike. Each site has its specific business needs and rules about how content is indexed and how it is searched. Dexter can't to solve for every possible scenario. Think of Dexter more of a framework than a fully pre-configured add-on. It is setup to handle most native ExpressionEngine fields and categories out of the box. You will need to add a $config['dexter'] = []; array to your config.php file to determine what Dexter should index and how. You can copy the array from the dexter/Config/settings.php file to get started. Read more about settings.

Dexter has basic front-end template tags to perform searches against Algolia or Meilisearch. However, for the best experience, we recommend you bring your own front-end. Algolia and Meilisearch excel at faceted indexing and searching, which usually require JavaScript based search and filtering components. Algolia orMeilisearch developer hubs are good places to start.

Configuring Indexes

Algolia and Meilisearch both provide admin interfaces to configure an index and its searchable properties. There is no need for Dexter to try to replicate these administration features in the ExpressionEngine control panel. You will need to use the native interface of your chosen search provider to define which properties/fields are searchable, filterable, faceted, etc. It is easiest to do this after 1 or more entries are indexed in either provider. When Dexter sends the JSON object to either provider it automatically creates documents in an index that map to that JSON object.

BoldMinded can not offer support on how to configure indexes or how to create custom pipelines. For guidance on pipelines, refer to the the `Pipelines` directory in Dexter for examples or the accompanying dexter_pipelines add-on.

Queue

It is highly suggested to use the Queue module when using Dexter, especially if you'll be using the batch index rebuilding feature.

Screenshots

Dexter's module settings page. This is where you can rebuild an index from scratch.

After saving an entry you'll be notified of it being indexed.

Then in Meilisearch or Algolia you can see what is indexed.